Dry Taps, Drained Wallets As the water crisis deepens, residents face the stark realities of dwindling supplies and rising costs. BY SHARON SIBINDI Blessing Moyo, a small livestock farmer, and mother of 3 from Emganwini, begins her day at 4 a.m. to feed her chickens. Her poultry project relies heavily on water—not just to keep the birds hydrated but also to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of their pens but in Bulawayo, water is as scarce as it is essential. To cope, Moyo invested in a 1,000-liter JoJo tank for $180. Yet, filling it comes at a steep cost. “The tank has been a lifesaver, but I spend $50 every week on water deliveries,” she says. “That’s money I could have used to buy feed, medicine, or even expand my operations. Instead, I’m barely breaking even.” For small business owners like Moyo, the water crisis is not just an inconvenience but a daily struggle for survival. “Water is essential—not just for the chickens to drink but also for cleaning their pens and maintaining hygiene,” she says. Without it, the risk of disease looms, threatening to derail her entire operation. Late water deliveries often force her to fetch buckets herself, walking long distances to keep her business afloat. “It’s exhausting and discouraging,” she says, shaking her head. “I’ve had to reduce the number of chickens because I can’t afford to water them all. I even considered shutting down, but this is my livelihood—what else can I do?” Adding to the uncertainty, reports in 2024 revealed that the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) had received an unsolicited bid to use drones for surveying JoJo tank owners, potentially introducing a billing system that could further drive-up costs. BCC remains tight-lipped about the drone usage claims and did not respond to a request for comment. However, the local authority doesn’t have a bylaw explicitly prohibiting the use of JoJo tanks. Tinashe Ngwenya, who runs a car wash in Emganwini, says the cost of running his business would double if BCC implements its proposed drone surveillance system to monitor JoJo tank users. Ngwenya is struggling to make a profit due to the city’s erratic water supply. “Every morning, I get up at dawn to set up the car wash, hoping to attract customers early in the day. But without a reliable water supply, I often find myself sitting idle,” “Washing cars isn’t just about having soap and tools; it’s water dependent. If there’s no water, there’s no business,” Ngwenya adds. The inconsistency in water availability has driven many of his regular customers elsewhere. “People want a guarantee that when they bring their cars, they’ll leave with them clean. But I can’t promise that anymore,” he says with frustration. Competitors with JoJo tanks or boreholes are capturing the customers he has lost. Unable to afford such infrastructure, Ngwenya spends hours queuing at community boreholes to fetch water. “Sometimes I fill up buckets and jerry cans just to get through the day,” he says. “It’s exhausting, and it doesn’t even last long. I can’t compete with businesses that have steady water supplies.” The financial strain is evident. “My income has dropped significantly because fewer cars are coming in. On some days, I don’t even make enough to cover my operating costs, let alone take anything home,” he says. “I’m running at a loss most of the time.” Ngwenya is now contemplating a tough decision. “I’m considering closing down. This business was my main source of income, but without water, I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle. It’s heartbreaking, but I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.” In the food sector, the water crisis is threatening hygiene and profitability. Edwin Ncube, a butcher who runs a store in Nketa, spends over $200 each month on water deliveries to maintain good hygiene. “Hygiene is everything in this line of work,” Ncube says. “Without clean water, maintaining these standards becomes nearly impossible. The safety of my customers depends on this, and so does my reputation.” Ncube begins his day early to coordinate water deliveries before opening his shop. “If there’s a delay, I risk having to close for the day because I won’t compromise on hygiene,” he says. Despite his efforts, the crisis is taking a toll. “Customers are more cautious these days,” Ncube admits. “They ask a lot of questions about how I’m managing the water situation, and some have even stopped coming. The perception of poor hygiene, even when it’s not true, can destroy a food business.” Street vendors like Jane Ncube, who sell cooked food at Nketa 6 garage, are also grappling with the crisis. “I need water to cook and wash the food I sell,” she says. “I’ve had to buy buckets of water from other vendors for $1 each. I use five buckets a day, and this eats into my profits.” Bulawayo’s water challenges are deeply entrenched in its history. For decades, the city has faced persistent water shortages driven by reliance on supply dams located in a neighboring province, aging infrastructure, and outdated water management systems. The municipality depends on six key dams—Insiza, Inyankuni, Mtshabezi, Umzingwane, Lower Ncema, and Upper Ncema—all located in Matabeleland South. However, these dams have consistently fallen short of meeting the demands of the city’s growing population. In late 2024, Umzingwane and Upper Ncema dams were decommissioned due to critically low water levels, a development that exacerbated the crisis. “Life without consistent access to water is a daily struggle,” says Permanent Ngoma, Executive Director of the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA). “And on top of this, residents still have to pay their monthly city council bills. It’s unsustainable.” Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart describes the situation as catastrophic. “Our dams are just over 24% full, which is alarming for this time of year,” he said in December. “Despite the rains, we’ve experienced limited runoff because our catchment areas have been devastated by illegal gold panning.” In 2024, BCC requested that the central government declare the water crisis a national disaster. This would have enabled the city to mobilize local and international resources to address the problem. However, the request was rejected, and the central government instead appointed a technical committee to explore alternative solutions. “The crisis has only deepened,” Coltart says. “Frequent power outages limit the amount of water we can pump, and unfortunately, this means water rationing will remain in place for the foreseeable future.” Long-term solutions, such as building additional dams or tapping into alternative water sources like the Zambezi River Pipeline Project, remain on the table but come with hefty price tags. In the short term, experts have urged authorities to focus on repairing existing infrastructure, addressing illegal activities in catchment areas, and increasing public awareness about water conservation. Read more of our reporting series here: https://thecitizenbulletin.org/series/a-thirsty-city/